Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter’s Eagle Ford Shale Task Force Gathers for Final Meeting

Chairman Commends Members for Years of Service to South Texas

AUSTIN — Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter assembled the Eagle Ford Shale Task Force for a final gathering Tuesday. He publicly commended the members at the Commission’s open meeting for helping the shale play develop responsibly by protecting natural resources when production began ramping up in 2011. 

“I created this group because I suspected that the shale play had the potential to be one of the most important economic developments in Texas history, and it was,” Porter said. “We met to have productive, collaborative discussions about development in the Eagle Ford region with important stakeholders from across South Texas, so we could find the proper way to develop these resources while ensuring environmental protection. Our state is a better place because of their service.”

In 2011, the Eagle Ford Shale rapidly became one of the largest domestic crude oil and natural gas discoveries in more than 40 years. Roughly 50 miles wide and 400 miles long, the shale play spreads across Texas from the Mexican border, covering 24 Texas counties. Because of its greater productivity of both oil and natural gas, as compared to other shale plays, the Eagle Ford quickly became one of the most successful and important energy plays in the world, helping the United States surpass Saudi Arabia and Russia as the number one producer of oil and gas liquids in the world in 2015.

Chairman Porter’s Task Force was composed of 29 stakeholders total from various interests and areas of expertise. Their mission was three-fold: 

1. Open the lines of communication between all parties
2. Establish best practices for developing the Eagle Ford Shale
3. Promote economic benefits locally and statewide 

Its original members when it launched in 2011 were: 

• Leodoro Martinez, Cotulla
• Kirk Spilman, San Antonio
• The Honorable Jaime Canales, Laredo
• Teresa Carrillo, Corpus Christi
• James E. Craddock, Houston
• Erasmo Yarrito, Harlingen
• Steve Ellis, Corpus Christi
• The Honorable Daryl Fowler, Cuero
• Brian Frederick, Houston
• Anna Galo, Laredo
• The Honorable Jim Huff, George West
• Stephen Ingram, Houston
• Mike Mahoney, General Manager, Pleasanton
• James Max Moudy, Houston
• Trey Scott, San Antonio
• Mary Beth, Houston
• Terry Retzloff, Campbellton
• Greg Brazaitis, Houston
• Glynis Strause, Beeville
• Susan Spratlen, Dallas
• Chris Winland, Austin/San Antonio
• Paul Woodard, Palestine
• The Honorable Barbara Shaw, Karnes City
• Paula Seydel, Carrizo Springs 

Additional members were added in 2014. They were: 

• Grant Ruckel, Austin
• Mark D. Petrichuk, Houston
• Martin Medina, Houston
• Dr. Les Shepherd, San Antonio
• David Leaverton, Dallas  

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Texas Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter was elected statewide by the people of Texas to serve as a member of the Commission in November 2010. A Certified Public Accountant and successful small business owner, Chairman Porter has worked with oil and gas producers for nearly three decades providing strategic financial advice and tax counsel. He is the senior member of the Commission with a proven record of principle-driven, free market conservative leadership.